After building a 108-unit senior housing community almost 40 years ago, Leon N. Weiner & Associates (LNWA) returned to rehabilitate the property in Newark, Del.
“We truly have come full circle,” said Glenn Brooks, president of LNWA. “After much hard work, Marydale Retirement Village stands ready to serve its residents for years to come. If you walk around the complex, the transformation is dramatic.”
LNWA, a nationally recognized home builder and developer of affordable housing, was the original developer and construction manager of the community when it was built in 1979. The development consists of 108 one-bedroom, garden-style apartments for seniors and was financed with a competitive allocation of 9% low-income housing tax credits (LIHTCs).
“More than 30 years later, LNWA stepped up once again to act as development partner and contractor for this campus-wide renovation,” said Richelle Vible, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Wilmington, the property owner. “They guided us through the process every step of the way, from tackling the application to finalizing the last items on the punch list.”
Interior upgrades included Energy Star heat pumps, kitchen appliances, and hot water heaters, as well as new kitchen cabinets, countertops, low-flow/energy-saving bathroom fixtures, bathroom grab bars, interior doors, flooring, and a sprinkler fire suppression system.
The community building underwent extensive modernization and features dedicated meeting areas to provide residents with supportive services.
Outside, the community boasts newly accessible walkways, forming a trail around the seven-acre campus. New accessible trash enclosures, landscape upgrades, and drainage improvements ensure the grounds maintain a quiet residential feel.
The property receives rental assistance from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and eligible residents pay no more than 30% of their adjusted income for rent.
Catholic Charities serves as the property manager. The $17.5 million project was made feasible by 9% LIHTCs from the Delaware State Housing Authority; HOME investment partnership funding administered by New Castle County; construction financing from Citizens Bank; and permanent loan and equity investment from Cinnaire.